An immersive ‘Earth to Sky’ workshop for climate science educators convened 42 educators from Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Hawaiʻi island in January 2024 with the goal of building ‘pilina’ (relationships) among the educators and connecting participants with climate change science unique to the Hawaiian Islands. 

The workshop was hosted on Oʻahu at the Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center and on Hawaiʻi Island at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center where educators participated in seminars, field trips, demonstrations, and collaborative working groups. The educators were exposed to tools and regional climate science data for creating place-based climate science lessons that reflected the local culture and environment.  

Educators can use their experiences from the ‘Earth to Sky’ workshop to help their own students form connections to their surrounding Hawaiian ecosystems and cultural heritage, and to continue sharing resources like lesson plans and curricula with other educators on the islands. 

The event was supported by the Pacific Islands CASC, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, National Park Service, the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education.